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Hunstanton lifeboat launched to stricken pleasure craft with six on board

Lifeboats News Release

A Norfolk lifeboat launched to a pleasure boat with six people on board off the Lincolnshire coast.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hunstanton RNLI lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk was launched to a vessel in difficulty off the Lincolnshire coast
Volunteers at Hunstanton RNLI were paged at 9.30pm on Wednesday 26 June after the alarm was raised by HM Coastguard.

A pleasure craft's engine had failed in the Boston Deeps, an area of The Wash to the east of the outer approaches of the Lincolnshire port, leaving her powerless.

The Hunstanton crew launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk, which made rapid progress over the 15-mile journey across the estuary as darkness fell.

After arriving on scene at around 10.30pm, the four-strong lifeboat crew found all on board were safe.

They assessed the situation before deciding the safest option was to tow the vessel to Boston.

The operation was carried out successfully and the casualty vessel was handed over to the Boston pilot shortly before midnight.

Spirit of West Norfolk then set off back across The Wash to her station, where she was washed down and refuelled ready for her next service by 1.30am.


Editor's notes:

Picture attached of RNLI lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk. Credit: RNLI/Chris Bishop.

Hunstanton operates an Atlantic 85 fast inshore lifeboat, Spirit of West Norfolk, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet.

It's also one of just four stations which operates a search and rescue hovercraft.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of both the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton and the birth of the RNLI, whose work would not be possible without donations from its supporters.


RNLI media contacts:

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, Clare Hopps, Regional Media Officer on 07824 518641, or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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